Good Books for a 16 year old

[Nobody]

I turn 16 in about 15 days.



A couple of things I'd best interested in are books about growing a fortune, strength, voice, SATs (that would be easy), improving school grades, yoga and how to relax, and just my life in general.

 

[S1NN3R]

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

Think Rich, Grow Rich, don't know the author right off.

If by "strength" you mean inner, get a Bruce Lee biography.

 

[Vulpine]

"The Anarchist Cookbook"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09...002-1881788-5795232?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

(Careful, the FBI will flag you.)


"The Learn2 Guide: Burp a Baby, Carve a Turkey, and 108 Other Things You Should Know How to Do"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03...1788-5795232?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

How to win friends & influence people is a MUST.

 

[brucevangeorge]

Hmm. There's also this "CIA Book of Dirty Tricks" or something like that. (I forget the name.) PM me and I will look it up if anyone is interested. Written by a former CIA agent.

Teaches you things like "Putting fiberglass sealer in the oil nozzle of the car" will eventually lead to the car breaking down in a couple of hours because the stuff will react with the oil turning it rock slid and rendering the car useless.

And the magic of bleach and all the things you can do with it.

Stuff like that.

 

[Shiftkey]

Think and Grow Rich was written by Napoleon Hill. It's a bit heavy and the writting style is outdated (it WAS published in 1938 afterall), but some people like it. You should at least check it out.

Obviously, read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.

Art of War by Sun Tzu.

I'm currently reading Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. Great read so far.

 

[Stackthestyles]

Amazingly, you can find all of the books listed on one of the many "free ebooks" sites online.

 

[ShizamDaMan]

48 Laws of Power - this book has a lot of good life lessons, regardless of what you're trying to accomplish with yours.

Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex - may be a little complex depending on how mature you are. Be sure to re-read it a lot until you truly understand the meanings behind the scenarios. Lots of insight into how we as humans operate.

The Catcher in the Rye - when I read this book at 16, I hated it. However, when I came back to it in college I realized how awesome it was. A great read on becoming mature and accepting the world around you.

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell - I like Tucker Max a lot. Read this book, and get excited about having ridiculous adventures like this when you're a bit older.

 

[Nocturnal]

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

This book basically teaches you how to make people like you and do you favors by being fake. After I read it, I thought it was great, it would help me to deal with my social problems, become confident, etc. In reality, it shows you how to manipulate people by hiding your insecurities. That is the last thing you want.

My favorite book is definitely Atlas Shrugged. It's fiction but it embodies exactly what I would tell you to look for in a non-fiction book, and it's a little easier going down.

 

[Microphone Fiend]

something philosphical perhaps? Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance is often tackled in schools by kids your age so you know it wont be over your head.

 

[OfficeSpace]

I would suggest reading the book of "Proverbs" in the Bible. I mean even if you aren't religious, it has a lot of great life information that will help you become successful. It covers on topics like money, relationships, women... It has a lot of wisdom.

 

[wavejams007]

I would suggest reading the book of "Proverbs" in the Bible. I mean even if you aren't religious, it has a lot of great life information that will help you become successful. It covers on topics like money, relationships, women... It has a lot of wisdom.

while reading the bible, read ecclisiastes.

 

[dannowillbookem]

a million little pieces ... by that one guy on oprah


god that book was so insane. reminds me of the quote "only by travelling to the ends of sanity and back can one know true enlightenment" that book probably saved me from following that quote, which was my plan with drugs. i got to travel to the end of sanity with this guy, and see how bad it fuccked him up.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Hustler, Oui, Biggunns, Playboy (seriously for the articles) , The book of the Law and The Art of war.

Good to start with

 

[MrS]

Good thread.

Soul of a Butterfly - Ali

 

[Vulpine]

This book basically teaches you how to make people like you and do you favors by being fake. After I read it, I thought it was great, it would help me to deal with my social problems, become confident, etc. In reality, it shows you how to manipulate people by hiding your insecurities. That is the last thing you want.

Yes and No. Just like being a DJ, it is a "bag of tricks". You take from it what you need, and throw away the rest. This kid will find it useful in the workplace, in school, etc. The thing that struck me was the manipulation, but like I said, it's like being a DJ. Once you "become that person" you stop manipulating and start being yourself... which makes people like/respect/want to please you.

How to Win Friends and Influence people is a HUGE boon for a 16 year old. The book doesn't lead you to "hide" anything, just choose your verbage differently. That is a far cry from being "fake".

 

[diplomatic_lies]

I used to read Where's Wally? when I was 16.

 

[JC9]

The Way of the Superior Male by David Dieda
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kirosawi (sp?)
Sit: Zen Teachings of Taisen Dechimaru by Phillipe Coupey
Reading People by Jo-Ellan Dimitrius
She Comes First by Ian Kerner

Read and apply the concepts in those and you will do very well in life.

 

[Nocturnal]

Yes and No. Just like being a DJ, it is a "bag of tricks". You take from it what you need, and throw away the rest. This kid will find it useful in the workplace, in school, etc. The thing that struck me was the manipulation, but like I said, it's like being a DJ. Once you "become that person" you stop manipulating and start being yourself... which makes people like/respect/want to please you.

How to Win Friends and Influence people is a HUGE boon for a 16 year old. The book doesn't lead you to "hide" anything, just choose your verbage differently. That is a far cry from being "fake".

I disagree. Acting happy won't make you become a happy person, it will make you a person who acts happy. I know tons of guys who act tough, confident, etc, but if you look closely they never "grew into it." If you look closely you can still find visible insecurities, often having to do with how they look, or that they care about what other people think of them. A truly confident man doesn't need to act and acting won't help him. A solid philosophy that he can ground his actions and goals in, will.

Being a DJ may be using a bag of tricks, but if that is the case, I'm not advocating being a DJ (I hate all those stupid acronyms anyway).

 

[October]

Since you're 16, I'm guessing that you might have a lot of free time over the summer...reading is a very good way to spend your time, I applaud you for that.

-(Ralph Waldo Emerson): Nature, The American Scholar, Self-Reliance (to begin with).
-The Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger)
-Franny and Zooey (JD Salinger)
-Beyond Good and Evil (Nietzsche) (a little hard to understand)
-The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
-Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu)
-The Way of the Peaceful Warrior (Millman)
-Not a book, but a good movie is "Waking Life".

Not to bash you guys, but I don't understand the hype for 48 Laws of Power...it seemed very manipulative, fake/unnatural, and confusing.